Small Effort Nets Large Return in Huntsville

Shop Small-Shop Local was a success for downtown Huntsville. Main Street’s campaign ran from November 1 through December 1. For every $20 spent in a participating downtown small business, customers received a ticket in a $1,000 drawing.

Main Street Coordinator Debbie Charbonneau reported that 2,248 tickets were distributed, resulting in approximately $45,000 in economic impact.

Sally Smith was the winner of the $1,000 drawing, which was selected by Santa at the Christmas Fair & Winter in the Park event held on Shop Small-Shop Local Saturday, Dec. 2.

“We had about 20 local businesses participate in the program,” Charbonneau said. “The merchants were very receptive to the American Express sponsored event. There is a true passion for downtown in Huntsville.”

Charbonneau joined the American Express program as a Neighborhood Champion through the City of Huntsville Main Street office.

“We received promotion supplies with the program and the local businesses loved it,” Charbonneau said. “And the money won during the drawing went right back into our downtown businesses.”

Charbonneau plans on doubling the local small business participation for 2018 and thanked the local businesses that supported the event.

“We hope to have this program grow bigger each year. What started as a small effort and idea is now making a great impact for our community,” Charbonneau said.

“They told us how much they appreciated Huntsville’s small businesses and I enjoyed being able to give them tickets for the $1,000 drawing when they made a purchase. We were able to show them that we appreciated them,” Collins said.

Small businesses are the backbone of this country and, when combined, constitute the largest employer in the nation. By supporting small businesses, shoppers help owners become job creators. Among the downtown businesses that participated in this year’s Shop Small-Shop Local:Fabric Carousel, The Buttercup Cottage, Tickled Pink, Bluebonnet Square Antiques, Sam Houston Antique Mall, A Nitsch in Time, Timeless Treasures, The Patio Cafe on the Square, BonnieLu’s, Diamonds and Rust, Bargain Boxx, Deja Vu Décor, Deja Vu Around the Corner, and McAdams Dry Goods Company.

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One comment

I believe that it is downright criminal for small locally businesses to be virtually bankrupted with high property taxes while their tax dollars subsidize multi-national corporations to come to town and locate on Gibbs/Smither lands on the W. side of the freeway.